THE CURRENT: August Agenda
What I'm buying, doing, reading, watching, and more this month.
I’ve always felt that August is the Sunday of summer—while you still have time to enjoy some carefree fun in the sun, the back-to-school scaries loom in the atmosphere. My daughter starts school after Labor Day, so we have all month to squeeze every last drop out of summer. On the agenda: a weekend camping trip, a visit to Lagoon, lots of pool days, and, undoubtedly, plenty of popsicles.
Here’s what else is on my agenda this August…
CURRENTLY ADDING TO CART
August is the perfect time to score items from your summer wishlist on sale. A few faves from mine: Le Sirenuse souvenir terry tee, bandana print shorts, leather flip-flops, Say My Name beaded necklace, The One Warm Glow Daily Sun Cream, Staud beaded bag, Good Weather Skin daily lip sun gloss, Suzie Kondi sweatshirt, Madewell striped pants.
CURRENTLY READING
This month I’m planning to read One Italian Summer by Rebecca Serle, which sounds like the perfect pool/beach read: “A novel about the transformational love between mothers and daughters set on the breathtaking Amalfi Coast.” Cue the Kleenex and the wanderlust.
Also at the top of my TBR list this month is Take What You Can by Naima Coster, which hit bookshelves earlier this week.
Here’s a snippet of the novel’s description: “Weaving between Brooklyn brownstones and the glittering beaches of southern France, Take What You Can is a dazzling novel exploring what it means to be a mother when you have none, a sister without blood ties, and a woman in pursuit of the life she wants. With her signature sharply observed prose, Naima Coster illustrates how to be—and to stay—someone’s person through all phases of life.”
CURRENTLY ADDING TO CALENDAR
This month, Chef’s Table Festival is coming to Park City, August 13–16. The festival brings the popular Chef’s Table Netflix series to life, with exclusive lunches, dinners, tastings, and demonstrations by dozens of the world’s best chefs in tandem with local chefs and restaurants. Ticket packages are upwards of $2K for the weekend, but the festival recently released individual tickets for locals to attend select events starting at $150. Get access to the local experience here.
CURRENTLY WATCHING
Speaking of chefs, the movie Tony hit theaters this week and I can’t wait to see it. Starring Dominic Cessa as Anthony Bourdain, the movie follows a 19-year-old Tony as he stumbles into the world of restaurant kitchens long before he became a household name.
I fell in love with Anthony Bourdain in the early aughts by watching his TV shows No Reservations and Parts Unknown. And I wasn’t the only one—anytime his show was on at my parents’ house or on vacation, my family would all gather around the television, one by one, and watch together—like moths to a flame, we were viewers to a Bourdain. I loved his adventurous spirit, brutal honesty, and empathetic heart. Like so many others, it was devastating to hear of his tragic death in 2018 at the age of 61. Since his passing, he’s reached legendary status, so it was only a matter of time before we got a Bourdain biopic. I hope the film lives up to his standards.
CURRENTLY WANDERLUSTING
August is typically the month my family takes a vacation to Laguna Beach, an annual summer tradition since I was a little girl. We aren’t trekking to the beach this August (for myriad reasons), but if we were I would be excited to book a room at Le Petit Pali Laguna Beach.
Lodging in Laguna can be tricky (many of the hotels are expensive and weathered—Casa Loma is an exception), so when I came across this charming hotel my heart skipped a beat. The overall design is akin to a stylish coastal cottage, but in a bold, polished way rather than beachy shabby-chic. And if Laguna isn’t your preferred destination, Le Petit Pali has additional California hotels in Brentwood, Carmel, and St. Helena.
Enjoy your August.
xx, Tessa